South African silver coinage traces its origins to the standards of the United Kingdom. From 1923, the Union of South Africa struck silver coins with an 80% purity, a higher standard than the 50% used by Britain or Australia at the time. This remained consistent until 1951, when South Africa eventually followed the global trend of debasement.
The transition to a decimal system in 1961 introduced the Rand and Cents denominations. While many countries abandoned silver during this decade, South Africa briefly returned to high-purity 80% silver for its 1 Rand coins in the late 1960s. These coins, featuring the iconic Springbok design, are a favorite for stackers due to their impressive size and significant bullion weight.
| Coin Type | Purity | Years | ASW (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Rand (Springbok) | 80.0% | 1965-1969 | 0.3858 |
| 5 Shillings (Springbok) | 80.0% | 1923-1950 | 0.7273 |
| 5 Shillings (Springbok) | 50.0% | 1951-1960 | 0.4546 |
| 2 1/2 Shillings (Half Crown) | 80.0% | 1923-1950 | 0.3636 |
| 2 1/2 Shillings (Half Crown) | 50.0% | 1951-1960 | 0.2273 |
| 2 Shillings | 80.0% | 1923-1950 | 0.2909 |
| 2 Shillings | 50.0% | 1951-1960 | 0.1818 |
| 1 Shilling | 80.0% | 1923-1950 | 0.1454 |
| 1 Shilling | 50.0% | 1951-1960 | 0.0909 |
| 50 Cents | 50.0% | 1961-1964 | 0.1500 |
| 6 Pence | 80.0% | 1923-1950 | 0.0727 |
| 6 Pence | 50.0% | 1951-1960 | 0.0454 |
| 3 Pence (Tickey) | 80.0% | 1923-1950 | 0.0364 |
| 3 Pence (Tickey) | 50.0% | 1951-1960 | 0.0227 |
